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Hello everyone
I came across a blog written by New York daily news investigative sportswriter Michael O'Keeffe regarding authenticators writing letters on items they consign. This is a serious problem within the hobby and I applaud Dave Grob's stance.
In my opinion there is no room in this hobby for these blatant conflicts of interest.
Read below
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Category: Memorabilia
May 03, 2006
Memorabilia Market Needs Spring Cleaning
One of the biggest problems sports memorabilia collectors face is the often-cozy relationship between authentication services and auction houses. Most game-used items offered by auction houses are now accompanied by certificates from services attesting to their authenticity. But conflicts of interest come up too frequently when those so-called independent experts write certificates to pump up the very items they’ve consigned to auctions.
Dave Grob of Memorabilia Evaluation and Research Services, one of the hobby’s leading authentication services, says it’s time to bring in federal regulators.
“This industry has no standards or regulations,” says Grob, MEARS’ policy director. “There is no professional association of auction houses, dealers or authenticators to set professional or business ethics. I think the hobby is sorely missing that.”
Grob has published a call to arms on the MEARS Web site requesting collectors petition Congress to pass a law that would require authentication services and auction houses to let potential buyers know when they have a financial interest in an auction item.
MEARS started to notify consumers about its financial interest in auction offerings after its authenticator Dave Bushing was widely rapped for writing a certificate that claimed a bat found in former Yankee Tommy Henrich’s home was used by Joe DiMaggio during his famous 56-game hitting streak. Many collectors were outraged to learn that Bushing was also the consigner of the bat, which was purchased for $345,000 by Louisville Slugger manufacturer Hillerich & Bradsby.
Grob says he doesn’t believe the memorabilia business is corrupt and he’s not accusing anybody of illegal activity. But he does say his industry should throw open the windows and let in some fresh air. “It’s in the best interest of everybody if we are as transparent as possible,” Grob says. “If we don’t, we can lose our customer base.”
I came across a blog written by New York daily news investigative sportswriter Michael O'Keeffe regarding authenticators writing letters on items they consign. This is a serious problem within the hobby and I applaud Dave Grob's stance.
In my opinion there is no room in this hobby for these blatant conflicts of interest.
Read below
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category: Memorabilia
May 03, 2006
Memorabilia Market Needs Spring Cleaning
One of the biggest problems sports memorabilia collectors face is the often-cozy relationship between authentication services and auction houses. Most game-used items offered by auction houses are now accompanied by certificates from services attesting to their authenticity. But conflicts of interest come up too frequently when those so-called independent experts write certificates to pump up the very items they’ve consigned to auctions.
Dave Grob of Memorabilia Evaluation and Research Services, one of the hobby’s leading authentication services, says it’s time to bring in federal regulators.
“This industry has no standards or regulations,” says Grob, MEARS’ policy director. “There is no professional association of auction houses, dealers or authenticators to set professional or business ethics. I think the hobby is sorely missing that.”
Grob has published a call to arms on the MEARS Web site requesting collectors petition Congress to pass a law that would require authentication services and auction houses to let potential buyers know when they have a financial interest in an auction item.
MEARS started to notify consumers about its financial interest in auction offerings after its authenticator Dave Bushing was widely rapped for writing a certificate that claimed a bat found in former Yankee Tommy Henrich’s home was used by Joe DiMaggio during his famous 56-game hitting streak. Many collectors were outraged to learn that Bushing was also the consigner of the bat, which was purchased for $345,000 by Louisville Slugger manufacturer Hillerich & Bradsby.
Grob says he doesn’t believe the memorabilia business is corrupt and he’s not accusing anybody of illegal activity. But he does say his industry should throw open the windows and let in some fresh air. “It’s in the best interest of everybody if we are as transparent as possible,” Grob says. “If we don’t, we can lose our customer base.”
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